WASHINGTON — A nihilistic terror cult called 764 is blackmailing minors into performing increasingly depraved acts, unnerving federal law enforcement officials. The group’s activities range from sex acts and self-harm to animal torture, and have sparked dozens of arrests since 2021.
A Web of Exploitation and Control
The group preys on vulnerable youth, manipulating them through online interactions and escalating demands.
- 764, founded in 2021, uses online platforms to target and exploit children.
- The cult’s methods involve blackmail, psychological manipulation, and escalating demands for disturbing acts.
- Federal authorities have made numerous arrests, but the decentralized nature of the group poses challenges.
- Parents are urged to be vigilant about their children’s online activity and recognize warning signs.
Just last year, Leonidas “War” Varagiannis and Prasan “Trippy” Nepal were charged in Washington, D.C., with allegedly coercing girls into self-harm, performing sexual acts, and engaging in other horrifying behavior. “This sick group convinced young girls to perform heinous acts for the group’s perverse entertainment: self-mutilation, online sexual acts, self-immolation, harm to animals, and even suicide and murder,” U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro stated.
One victim recounted being pressured into a “cut-show” after threats to release private messages and images, according to a criminal complaint. The two men allegedly bragged about their victims’ suffering, with Varagiannis claiming one girl committed “suicide for 764.”
The network primarily targets minors between 10 and 17, often girls struggling with mental health challenges. “Manipulation is their primary MO here; a lot of them are extremely good at manipulating children,” explained Mike Prado, deputy assistant director of the Department of Homeland Security Cyber Crimes Center. “These individuals are taking advantage of the fact that in today’s busy world, a lot of parents may not know what their children are doing online.”
The process begins with courting minors online, often in popular spaces, and moving them to private channels like Discord. There, victims are pressured into self-harm, sexual acts, harming loved ones or pets, and even acts of violence. Victims are often forced to record these acts, which are then used for further blackmail and coercion. This has led to instances of firebombings, stabbing sprees, swatting, and animal torture, some of which have been livestreamed.
The Rise of a Disturbing Ideology
Almost four years ago, a member nicknamed “Tobbz” allegedly murdered an elderly woman at random to gain status within the group. Victims and members are frequently encouraged to cut “764” or other phrases into their skin—a practice known as “cutsigning.” Prado explained that the group’s founders have a “nihilistic worldview,” and that cases often “spider web,” with victims becoming perpetrators.
764’s network operates with “accelerationist goals,” aiming for the “downfall of the current world order, including the U.S. Government,” according to the Justice Department. Members seek to create chaos and social instability, gaining “online credibility” through increasingly depraved acts.
The cult was founded in 2021 by Bradley Chance Cadenhead, who dropped out of school at 15 after facing bullying and family struggles. He named the network after the zip codes of his hometown in Stephenville, Texas (76401 and 76402). Online, he adopted the persona “Felix” and cultivated a global following on Discord. Cadenhead, now serving an 80-year prison sentence, and his followers blackmailed victims into filming disturbing acts and sharing child pornography.
“I can give you a guide on how to kill yourself 10 different ways that are very descriptive. sense you’re to f—ing stupid and cant [sic] kill yourself correctly. … i wanna watch somebody kill themselves,” Cadenhead wrote in one disturbing message, as reported by the Washington Post.
Cadenhead drew inspiration from groups like the neo-Nazi Order of Nine Angles and CVLT, which also pressured children into sexual acts. However, 764 escalated the depravity with animal torture, rape, self-harm, and bestiality. During Cadenhead’s sentencing in 2023, a prosecutor stated, “Very rarely do we get a chance to look evil in the face. This may be one of those times.”
Recent cases include the December 2023 charges against a 19-year-old accused of leading the “8884” network, an offshoot of 764. He and an accomplice allegedly pressured a minor to attempt suicide by overdose and coerced others into cutting their tongues, torturing a cat, and setting themselves on fire.
“I don’t think Stephen King is dark enough to come up with some of the stuff that these kids are coming up with,” Justin Sher, an attorney in the DOJ’s National Security Division, told ABC News.
Federal authorities have observed a “significant increase” in this type of cybercrime in recent years, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Prado.
Pirro urged parents to be more attentive to their children’s online activities. “I can’t stress this enough to parents – you are the first line of defense,” she said. “Please pay attention to what your children are doing on their phones and computers. Don’t allow them to be trapped by online monsters.”
The Department of Homeland Security’s Know2Protect initiative aims to combat sadistic online exploitation and child sexual exploitation by raising awareness among parents, highlighting warning signs like unexplained marks and unusual behavior toward animals.
“This is a real threat begins with [parents] understanding that allowing their children to roam the online space, completely unsupervised, without any guardrails, is a potential recipe for disaster,” Prado stressed.
